Wire-splicing- tool



H. H. HEUBERGER.

WIRE SPLICING TOOL. APPLICATION nuso NOV. :4. 1km.

1,314,079. Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

gnoehtoz HHHeubezyer HARRY H. I-IEUBELRGER, or SHEFFIELD, IOWA.

WIRE-SPLIGING ILOOL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

Application filed November 14, 1917. Serial No. 202,082.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HARRY H. Hnonnnonn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sheflield, in the county of Franklin, State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Splicing Tools; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain novel and useful improvements in a tool adapted particularly for use in splicing telephone, telegraph, fence wires and the like, especially woven wire.

In carrying out my invention it is my purpose to provide a tool of this character embodying parts of novel construction and arrangement, through the medium of which broken strands of wire may be properly spliced together.

Still a further object of my invention is the provision of a wire splicing tool which will embody in its construction the desired features of simplicity, efliciency and reliability and which may be manufactured and marketed at a relatively low cost.

Furthermore I propose to provide .a tool of this class which may be readily applied to and removed from its operative position, and which may be easily manipulated to quickly perform the functions for which it is intended.

With the above recited objects and others of a similar nature in view, my invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tool con structed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough, on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the blank from which the body of the tool is formed;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the pawl; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detailed section on line 66 of Fig. 1 showing the pawl in its disengaged position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the tool is illustrated as comprising a body portion 10 formed preferably from a single strip of sheet material that is bent into U-shaped form to provide substantially parallel side portions 11 and 12 and a connecting bight portion. Extending longitudinally from the free end of the leg 11 is a slot 13 and similarly provided in the leg 12 is a slot 14:, there being further formed in the leg 12 a circular opening 15 with which the slot 1 1 is disposed in cominunication.

In connection with the body portion or handle 10, there is employed a splicing head which includes a ratchet wheel 18 that is disposed between and in rotatable contact with the side portions 11 and 12 and an axial hub 16 that rotatably engages the opening 15 that constitutes a bearing, the hub at its free end having spaced lugs 19 with a resultant recess 20 that opens transversely of the radial slot 17 that extends through both the ratchet wheel and hub for registration at times with the slots 13 and 14.

Extending transversely between the sides 11 and 12 inwardly of the member 16 there 'is a transverse pin 21 and mounted thereon there is a pawl 22 movable to bring a finger 22 into and out of position to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 18, this pawl including a portion 21 which extends outwardly from between the sides 11 and 12 and which is roughened to present a finger grip by means of which the pawl may be shifted upon its pivot.

The lower portion of the pawl through which the pin 21 is engaged is transversely reduced as shown at A, to produce a shoulder B extending diagonally of the pawl with its end adjacent to the ratchet wheel lying closest to the pin 21. In the space formed by the reduction of the pawl there is a spring 23 coiled around the pin 21, one free end of the spring resting against shoulder B so as to hold the pawl yieldable with its finger 22' in engagement with the ratchet wheel. The opposite end of this spring is engaged beneath a lip 24 which is struck inwardly from the adjacent side 12, and which has a free end lying in the direction of the pawl. This lip is so positioned that it not only serves to hold the spring but also serves to receive the rearward face of the pawl thereagainst when the latter is moved out of engagement with the ratchet wheel and thus forms a stop limiting this movement of the pawl.

Having fully described the device, to employ the same for splicing the broken ends one of the wires engaged in the slots 13, 14:

and 17 and the free end thereof seated within the recess 20 between the lugs 19. It is thus obvious that upon oscillation of the tool in the proper direction, the pawl is engaged with the ratchet wheel to rotate the splicing member, while riding freely over the wheel during backward movement of the tool. In this manner the free end of the wire is readily twisted about itself, after which the tool is removed by releasing the pawl and turning the splicing member to bring the slot 17 into registration with the slots in the legs. For effecting a similar splice of the other end of the wire, the above operation is repeated. 7

What I claim is:

1. A wire splicing tool comprising ametal plate having longitudinal slots through its ends; one of which is inwardly enlarged to constitute a bearing, the plate being bent upon itself with resultant side members and a connecting bight and with the slots in registration, a splicing head including a ratchet wheel disposed between the end portions of the plate and a cylindrical hub projecting axially from one side of the wheel and rotatably fitting the bearing of the plate, the

ratchet wheel and hub having a radial slot formed continuously therethrough in position for registration at times with those of the plate, a bolt engaged through the'spaced sides of the plate in position to retain the sides with the side faces of the ratchet in V rotatable contact therewith, and a pawl pivoted upon the bolt between the sides of the plate in position to engage and hold th ratchet at times against rotation.

2. A wire splicing tool comprising a plate having longitudinal slots formed through its end portions, one of the slots being inwardly enlarged and constituting a bearing, the plate having .a lip struck therefrom and ranging longitudinally of the plate in the.

direction of the bearing, the plate being bent upon itself with resultant spaced side members and a connecting bight and with the slots in registration, a ratchet wheel having a cylindrical hub projecting from one side face and rotatably fitted in the bearing, the side faces of the ratchet wheel. being in rotatable contact with the spaced side members of the plate, a bolt for holding the side members of the plate against separation and engaged through them between said bearing and lip, a pawl pivoted upon the'bolt between the side members of the plate, and a spring encircling the bolt and having its end portions engaged respectively with the pawl and the lip to hold the pawl yieldably in engagement with the ratchet wheel. 1

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' HARRY H. HEUBERGER. Witnesses:

P. H. CRAWFORD, R. O. DAVENPORT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

